Should Gorgeous Al be on the field?

Submitted by umaz1 on

Hey everyone, I was thinking about this last night, and I haven't seen that it has been addressed directly.

Having Gorgeous Al in the press box clearly has some advantages as far as letting him see the field better and figuring out which plays will work and which won't.  However, I wonder how much of a difference it would make for Denard to have Borges on the field with him during the game rather then just speaking with him over the phone. 

We have seen on several occasions where Denard struggled in the first half and then went into halftime and had some face time with Al.  This seems to calm him down and get his head straight.  He then comes out dominant in the second half.  I even heard Coach Hoke address this with the B1G Network guys after the game in his ingterview.  He mentioned something to the fact that Al spoke with Denard and calmed him down and asked what he was "seeing" out there.

Just wanted to get everyones opinion.  I am sure there are advantages to both.  As long as Denard keeps tearing it up in the second half, I guess there is no real reason to fix what isnt broken. 

Rosey09

October 9th, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^

Interesting question, I'd like to see this asked in a press conference in lieu of whatever Drew Sharp would attempt to ask from his reserved press seat on White St.

go16blue

October 9th, 2011 at 12:31 PM ^

It's extremely difficult to see whats going on on the field when you're on the same level. It could have some benefits, but given how good he seems to be at making adjustments I would say he's better in the box when he can see everything clearly.

saveferris

October 9th, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^

How many OCs are coaching from the sideline?  I can't think of a single example.  Al needs to stay in the booth and manage the offense, that's his first responsibilty.  Calming down a flustered QB on the sideline should fall to the Quarterbacks Coach.

State Street

October 9th, 2011 at 12:45 PM ^

Not only that, but it was interesting on that 4th and 1 in the first half it seems Borges sent out the punt team.

Brady then called timeout, grabbed the headset (I'm assuming he disagreed with the call at this point), and after the TO out trots Denard and the offense.

Seems like this was once instance where Borges in the booth was a disadvantage - we had to burn a TO because of a lack of communication.

No complaints here though - was virtually meaningless in hindsight.  

biakabutuka ex…

October 9th, 2011 at 1:16 PM ^

You're missing a key point. NW brought out their defense according to the announcer. That's a great thing--if you're actually punting.

Michigan was obviously planning to go for it, and needed to regroup so that NW had the worst chance possible to stop them. It's hard to convert on a fake punt when the other team expects it. So instead, they just brought out Denard, with which 1 yard is a virtual guarantee.

Blue in Seattle

October 9th, 2011 at 2:26 PM ^

And also, toward the question you responded to, when they asked Al Borges about the call to go for the TD at the ND game, Borges stated that he "just sends in the next play" assuming the offense will keep going.  Putting the Field Goal unit, or punt team out there is Brady's call.  Brady is on the field because he's leading everything.  Al is up in the box because he's keeping the stream of play calls going.  

From what I heard at the North Western game from the announcers, they noticed that the NW defense stayed on the field.  So if the intention was to punt, that's a perfect time to do it.  If the intention is to run, and the defense is lined up to stop the run, then it's better to put your offense out there and at least spread them out by covering WR.

hard to say exactly what Hoke was thinking.  For myself I was thinking, "I wish I had a photographic memory of Mathlete's graph, cause I think this is a little too deep to be the correct call for expected value."  Then as it was clear they were going for it I told my self, "

self, I'm pretty sure they are going to make it, and make it with that QB iso that Denard has been getting stuffed on, so I'm not really worried about that, but I am interested in how Brian is going to write about it.  Is he going to acknowledge that Hoke was going against statistics based on field position?  Is he going to talk about how Al called a play that has been getting stuffed?  Who invented liquid soap and why?"  But by then Denard has made the first down with two yards to spare and was flipping the ball to the referee like, "ain't nothin' but a thing zebra man."

 

Tyang

October 9th, 2011 at 1:17 PM ^

I don't think Borges has a say in sending out the punt team. that's hokes job, they sent the punt team out, and northwestern called a timeout, because they saw different personal in the punt team of mi, maybe a fake punt was dialed up by Hoke, so when western adjusted, mi called timeout, because northwestern was ready for it. so they decided to just put it in denards hand and get the 1st. I'm sure if Borges had a choice he'd go on 4th down all the time.

lhglrkwg

October 9th, 2011 at 1:23 PM ^

Al's been in the business long enough to know that he probably operates better in the box and Brady is smart enough to just let Borges drive the offense the whole game. I'm guessing Brady didn't agree with the punt there so he put the brakes on and made an executive decision to go for it (which I loved). Not really a big deal for one play. The system sure seems to be working the other 99% of the time

bdsisme

October 9th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^

Sure, maybe Al can calm Denard down better in person, but he calms him down while helping him make adjustments based on the opponent's defense.  If he's not in the box, he doesn't have as good of a view of their defense in order to make these adjustments.

M Fanfare

October 9th, 2011 at 12:47 PM ^

Does Al Borges go down to the locker room at the half? I thought that coaches in the press box generally stay up there until the game ends. At Michigan Stadium, that would require fighting the traffic in the aisle to walk down to the field and the locker room or fighting the traffic outside the stadium and using a golf cart to get to the tunnel (which would probably take just as long). Either way it seems a bit silly when you can just talk on the phone

Mr. Yost

October 9th, 2011 at 12:47 PM ^

He's reading the defense from the booth...then he radios down to the signalers who signal in whether we keep the play or check to a new one.

Thats why a lot of the time, we line up...look to the sideline...and then get into our play.

 

Put him on the sideline and he can't see the whole defense.

Mannix

October 9th, 2011 at 12:55 PM ^

Is to equip the player with the ability to 'coach' himself on the field, court, wherever. This staff is good; I'm sure this is happening with the Michigan players as well.

I want the player/student to be able to make those adjustments either mechanically or cognitively on his own after awhile.

And as others have written, DRob is in constant contact after an offensive series, if need be.

 

uminks

October 9th, 2011 at 12:56 PM ^

I think Borges will concentrate better on formulating plays up in the coaches box, then having him down on the field. All Hoke needs to do is start pointing over at DROB!

WestCBlue

October 9th, 2011 at 1:12 PM ^

We are 6-0, why ask that question?

What is the purpose?

Are you cereal, ManBearPig?

Other than your pictures please stop posting topics, work on replies until you get a clue.

Wolverine In Exile

October 9th, 2011 at 1:22 PM ^

from a boat, in a moat, with a fox, in a box. In the air, over there, Al Borges can call plays anywhere he fucking wants. I love the fact that for the first time in probably 15 years we have an OC who put his ego in a closet and actually is building an offense AROUND HIS BEST PLAYERS.

macdaddy

October 9th, 2011 at 1:48 PM ^

it would be tough to be an effective OC from the sideline. You HAVE to see the whole field to know what's working and what isn't. Seems to be working out OK so far.

urbanachiever

October 9th, 2011 at 2:39 PM ^

Legitimate question.  While it seems a bit foolish to criticize a quarterback who routinely eclipses 400 yards by HIMSELF, those interceptions were truly hideous.  I'm definitely not in the Gardner at QB camp, but we can't just wave these picks off as if they aren't an issue because Denard plays well in the second half.  

The coaching staff has got to figure out a way to calm him down early in games.  I think Borges tries to do this with early QB runs and short passes, but inevitably Denard gets too jacked up and starts throwing to TacoPants.

I don't think putting Borges on the field is the solution - the playcalling has been phenomenal since the first couple of games - but we need to figure something out.  These early miscues are going to cost us eventually.

LSAClassOf2000

October 9th, 2011 at 3:23 PM ^

At the present time, there is no reason to alter the almost holy, panoramic view of the field which is afforded to our offensive coordinator. Al can see all, and all can see Al. 

jmblue

October 9th, 2011 at 7:25 PM ^

I don't think so.  The OC needs a better view of the field than that   And, as important as he is, Denard is not Borges's only responsibility.  The rest of the offense falls on his shoulders, too.